I took a coach to the NEC this year which gave me a couple of hours less at the Festival than usual. So off the coach and run in and buy white fabric (for dyeing). Then run to the cloakroom and drop the bag there. Experience has shown that the bag drops fill up quickly and I didn't want to carry fabric around all day. I bought some Doughty's pfd cotton poplin and mercerised cotton. Empress Mill had bundles of Egyptian cotton - I kg for £5 so I bought some of that too. That is lovely quality and has been scoured in the washing machine today, ready for dyeing. I wish I had opened the bundle straight away, they are lovely sized pieces and I would have bought more.
It was very crowded around the competition entries so I shopped for a while. Oliver Twist perle threads for a special project, then some sari ribbon and hand dyed wool felt. I also bought procion dye robin egg blue from Ario because I have struggled to mix duck egg blue at home. I have no idea if robins eggs are the same colour as ducks!
I calmed down then and fought my way to the quilts. I looked at the contemporary and the Art quilts, then decided I needed a rest. Lunch and a cup of tea and then I set off to find the 'virtual studio'.
Claire Benn was demonstrating mark making onto silk. As always she was generous with information and answered lots of questions. Someone was demonstrating tray dyeing, and I learned a few more tips - I am so sorry I didn't get her name. Then I watched thermofax printing, layering the same print but different colours. Leslie Morgan came back from her lunch whilst I was still hanging around, I asked how to mix up 'duck egg blue' dye. Next thing, Leslie had mixed up some print paste and printed onto a piece of cotton sateen. I watched, listened and learned. Then Leslie put the cotton into a bag and handed it to me. :):):):) How lucky am I? I have been very good and left the bag alone to give the dye time to batch.
I did eventually reluctantly leave the virtual studio, but succumbed to the 'making your mark' book and dvd. I also bought one thermofax screen.
I wandered through the exhibitions, drooled at the quilts, then bought a huge cinnamon bun to eat on the coach going home. I had a lovely day, met lovely people, some old friends and some I 'know' via the internet. One day is not long enough to see all the quilts, watch the demonstrations and shop. Next year I think I will book a hotel and stay over.
Today I got an email saying I had won some fabric in a prize draw - Happy dancing all round then.
9 comments:
What gorgeous colors in the felt and threads you got. you are so lucky to have her show you dyeing and then give you the piece. wow! when we go, we'll have to go for more than a day... makes it seem so real! guess I got to get to work on that passport. note to self, on the to do list in september.
Congratulations on the win :-)I should shop with you, youalways have the best ideas! I forgot to go to Craftynotions for sari silk, I think I shall have to go to Newark. I would love to see the Making Your Mark book. It's definitely worth staying over imho
I am at Cricket Club Quilters on Thursday, are you in,say, around 2.00pm, I could come for a natter.
I hope to have 2 days there next year, I came home feeling that I had missed an awful lot. Cant wait to see the piece of fabric that Leslie did for you, you are very good leaving it to batch that long, I dont know that I could be that restrained.
didnt we have a lovely time, looking forward to seeing your dyeing results!
what do you mean?you never saw the quilts I saw? yeah, I bet you stayed in wetherspoons all day really........
I love the look of the goodies you bought back from the NEC - such gorgeous colours. Many thanks for the tip about using tracing paper for monoprinting.
I missed that bit about you winning some fabric! Has it arrived? Did I miss the photo post of that too?
the prize hasn't arrived yet, but there is still time
The felt squares came from 21st Century Yarns, 01608 683762. They are very similar to the Oliver Twist ones.
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